Method of making a trim strip

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method of making a trim strip comprising the extrusion of a vinyl material to form a body which is so shaped that it can be confined in a peripheral slot in a roll, thereby to permit substantial pressure to be applied on the extruded body and a decorative strip by a mating roll. The top portion of the extruded body has side extensions which are supported by the edges of the recessed roll; thus, substantial pressure can be applied on the entire top of the decorative surface strip and the body to produce an adhesive bond or a bond by heat sealing. After the body is cooled, it is advanced through a number of aligned milling cutters to machine aligned recesses in the sides of the body to produce a retention cutout. After being machined to depth, the trim strip is advanced through a pair of grinding wheels to accurately form and space the recesses. During the extruding operation, a coated wire may be embedded within the body in the conventional manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. The method of producing a continuous decorative trim strip which includes the steps of: extruding a plastic material to produce a continuous flexible body with a lower portion having substantially parallel sides and a top portion having a laterally extending flange at each side edge extending above and laterally beyond the parallel sides, advancing said continuous flexible body and a decorative strip between bottom and top rollers which closely confine said body and decorative strip for securing the body and strip together under pressure, supporting all portions of said flexible body against movement in the direction of pressure application by said rollers, and advancing the strip from the rollers to have the parallel sides on the lower portion of said body pass between a pair of spaced milling cutters to produce inwardly extending recesses below the flanges and into the parallel sides of the lower body portion to facilitate retention of said flexible trim strip. 
     
     
       2. The method of producing a decorative trim strip as recited in claim 1, wherein the strip is further advanced to pass between a second pair of spaced milling cutters to deepen said recesses. 
     
     
       3. The method of producing a decorative trim strip as recited in claim 1, wherein the strip is further advanced to pass between a pair of spaced grinding wheels to finally form and smooth said recesses.